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Manchester United: Italian source provides Stefan De Vrij update
Manchester United remain interested in signing Inter Milan defender Stefan De Vrij this summer, according to Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera (via Sport Witness).
The lowdown: Stellar career
Signed from Lazio as a free agent in 2018, De Vrij has played 164 times for Inter and played a huge role in the side that won the Serie A title in 2020/21.
The 30-year-old central defender has amassed 436 senior appearances across an illustrious career that has seen the Dutchman add an Italian Cup and two Italian Super Cups to the top-flight title.
Tentatively linked with a move to Manchester recently, now it appears as though United are indeed in the frame to bring the experienced stalwart to the Premier League…
The latest: ‘Cannot be ruled out’
As per Corriere della Sera, transcribed by SW, Manchester United are ‘interested’ in De Vrij.
It’s claimed that the exit of the 57-cap Holland man ‘cannot be ruled out’ with the Red Devils attentive to the man billed as ‘world class’ by GIFN editor Kaustubh Pandey following a goalscoring display in a resounding 4-2 victory over arch-rivals AC Milan in 2020.
Inter Milan have needed to sell players in recent times owing to a perilous financial situation and could be open to further departures as the centre-back fast approaches the final 12 months of a deal in Milan (Transfermarkt).
The verdict: Shrewd move
Likely to be available for a cut-down price due to the dwindling contract, signing De Vrij this summer to sure up what was a leaky defence during 2021/22 would be a smart move from Erik ten Hag and John Murtough, particularly should Erik Bailly move on as mooted.
Last term, the 6 foot 2 tenacious defender – who shares a stylistic likeness with Atletico Madrid star Stefan Savic, Fiorentina powerhouse Nikola Milenkovic and United’s own Raphael Varane (Fbref) – made 41 appearances across all competitions to underline continued durability to perform at the top level.
Currently earning £116,000 per week (Salary Sport), De Vrij represents an affordable and viable stopgap for the Old Trafford hierarchy before potentially pulling the trigger on a more expensive outlay next summer, having hopefully regained Champions League football by that point.
